i saw this movie by accident, just cause i knew the lead actress like anybody else from the series 24 , and it surprised me for the best cause you don't think a low budget movie with mostly unknown actors to shine i can say its a great story that can happen in any family Elisha is acting amazing and although her young age its her best performance all the other actors are great too and make you believe them, this is a life lesson on how easily life can go wrong when you are sucked into gambling , something that is sadly becoming more and more common in our world with online gambling becoming easier to use, i really recommend this movie and think it should be seen in schools at least one time in order to warn other children of the danger in gambling acted

I have to say that I did enjoy this movie. I have only seen Elisha Cuthbert in one other role which didn't impress me. Here, she was stellar. Her performance carried this movie with ample assistance from her wise and loving mother, Sherrie Miller (Valerie).It seemed credible that this gifted and intelligent "teenager" was drawn to gambling as a way to use her gifts to acquire (I won't say earn) money for her European adventure. As she gradually became obsessed with the next big payoff, it became clear that this was more than an obsession: it was a disease.My issue with the denouement was that Katlin (Cuthbert) received a very light sentence for her transgressions (rehab and return to school and no European trip). Wow, that was painful! She harmed a LOT of people in addition to harming herself. It is, of course, necessary to receive treatment for this addiction as it is for drug, alcohol, or any other addiction.It is also necessary to perform restitution for all the harm that she has engendered. The very end of the film shows that not only did she escape any serious punishment, but she apparently is going to "game the system" and use her intelligence to indulge her passion, regardless of any consequences (there may be none). Rather than being a sympathetic character, she becomes someone you might like to smack in the face a couple of times and then walk away. And I believe that this is exactly what the film makers wished to say.

First of all, let me just say that if you are a fan of Elisha Cuthbert, like I am, then "Lucky Girl" is a must-see movie. Although I have not seen a whole lot of her work ("Mail to the Chief" and "24") I cannot imagine it getting any better than this. However, even if this movie had not been blessed with her presence, it would still be a very fine piece of work. Because it is a Canadian made-for-tv movie, I did not expect anything special, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is very well put together and the acting is top-notch. Cuthbert won the 2001 Gemini (Canadian television awards) for best actress in a dramatic program or mini-series and Sherry Miller, who plays her mother, won the Gemini for best supporting actress. The movie premiered in Canada on 4/8/01 on CTV and 'lucky' for those of us in the US, it was picked up by Lifetime, who changed the title to "My Daughter's Secret Life." But whatever it is called, do yourself a favor and see this movie.

Great made-for-TV fun. A little edgier than your typical Lifetime fare and not nearly as cheesy (but cheesy enough to satisfy that cheese-jones). More realistic high school setting than one usually sees in these things, and the actors actually looked the ages they were supposed to portray. Good performances, good writing, and gotta love the not-so-happy ending.